Topic description and stories

Putting public health research into practice has had major impacts worldwide, resulting in longer, healthier lives.

Surgeons preparing for an operation

Children in poorer countries face almost sixfold higher risk of dying after emergency surgery

07 May 2026

Children who need life‑saving emergency surgery after a serious injury are almost six times more likely to die if in poorer countries than in...

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Man sitting on sofa at home and watching a football match. He is using smartphone for sports betting

Gambling ads on social media reach more than twice as many men as women

28 Apr 2026

Gambling companies are reaching young men – the group most likely to exhibit problem gambling behaviour – on social media at more than double the...

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Close-up image of an individual administering a semaglutide injection into their abdomen for weight loss and obesity management

Lack of support for people on weight loss drugs leaves them vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, say experts

08 Jan 2026

People prescribed the new generation of weight loss drugs may not receive sufficient nutritional guidance to support safe and sustainable weight loss...

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London housing estate - close of up windows

Neighbourhood deprivation linked to brain vessel damage and higher dementia risk

05 Nov 2025

Cambridge researchers have discovered why living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood may be linked to an increase in an individual’s risk of dementia...

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People walking beside a graffitied wall

NHS Active 10 walking tracker users are more active after using the app

06 Aug 2025

Users of the NHS Active 10 app, designed to encourage people to become more active, immediately increased their amount of brisk and non-brisk walking...

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Traffic jam

Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution linked to increased risk of dementia

24 Jul 2025

An analysis of studies incorporating data from almost 30 million people has highlighted the role that air pollution – including that coming from car...

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Person wearing a grey t-shirt holding a palm-sized device to their chest

Handheld device could transform heart disease screening

08 Apr 2025

Researchers have developed a handheld device that could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease.

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Cyclist in London

Young adults generally more active after starting work, but sleep less – unless working from home

28 Jan 2025

When young adults start working, the amount of daily physical activity they do increases sharply, only to fall away again over the next few years...

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Barman handing a customer a pint of beer

Removing pint glasses could reduce beer sales by almost 10%

18 Sep 2024

Cambridge researchers have shown that reducing the serving size for beer, lager and cider reduces the volume of those drinks consumed in pubs, bars...

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ULEZ signs in London

Children switch to walking and cycling to school after introduction of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone

05 Sep 2024

Four in ten children in Central London who travelled to school by car switched to more active modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, or public...

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Preparing a Monte Cristo Sandwich, with Black Forest Ham

Red and processed meat consumption associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk

20 Aug 2024

Meat consumption, particularly consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat, is associated with a higher type 2 diabetes risk, an analysis...

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Woman sitting in a wheelchair

‘Far from clear’ new Alzheimer’s drugs will make a difference at a population level, say researchers

06 Aug 2024

Cambridge researchers have cast doubt on whether new amyloid immunotherapy drugs will have the desired effect of significantly reducing the impact of...

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